Magnetic play apparatus

ABSTRACT

Magnetic play apparatus comprising a plurality of individual defined separate playing areas and a plurality of playing pieces, each piece having a magnet therein, such that when a playing piece is placed upon a defined playing area, an additional piece placed thereon will either repel the first piece, knocking it over or moving it out of the playing area, or be attracted to the first piece, causing it to remain in the playing area, the result being dependent on the relative positioning of the magnet poles.

United States Patent 1191 Goldfarb et al.

[54] MAGNETIC PLAY APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, 4614 Monarca Drive, Tarzana, Calif. 91356; Rene Soriano, Los Angeles, Calif.

[73] Assignee: said Goldfarb, by said Soriano [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 106,775

521 u.s.c1. ..273/13s AD,46/236 51 1111.01. ..A63f3/00 [58] Field of Search ..273/1,85,94,130, 131,134,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,938 11/1950 Wolf ..273/94 R 2,616,696 11/1952 Field 1 ..273/94 R 2,809,835 10/1957 Berryhill ..273/l M 2,819,904 1/1958 Nelson et al ..273/130 A 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 3,427,029 2/1969 Riva ..273/135 AD 3,409,295 11/1968 Bernstein ..273/85 F 3,406,974 10/1968 Nelson ..273/1 34 AE 2,249,454 7/1941 Brake ..273/l M UX Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe AttorneySokolski 81. Wohlgemuth and Robert M. Ashen [57] ABSTRACT Magnetic play apparatus comprising a plurality of individual defined separate playing areas and a plurality of playing pieces, each piece having a magnet therein, such that when a playing piece is placed upon a defined playing area, an additional piece placed thereon will either repel the first piece, knocking it over or moving it out of the playing area, or be attracted to the first piece, causing it to remain in the playing area, the result being dependent on the relative positioning of the magnet poles.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SHEET 10F 2 PATENTEDJ/m 30 I975 INVENTORS ADglPH E. GOLDFA RB NE SORIANO ROBERT M. ASHEN ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 30 I973 sum 20F 2 mum;

lNVENTORS ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB RENE SORIANO BY ROBERT M. ASHEN ATTORNEY MAGNETIC PLAY APPARATUS Prior to the herein invention, magnets have been utilized in various play devices. The most simple device is comprised of various shaped objects having magnets affixed to the base portion thereof such that the pieces tend to repel each other and thereby permit a user to manipulate one piece to cause another piece to move about. Other devices have utilized magnets to adhere playing pieces to a metallized playing surface such as a game of checkers, chess or the like. However, these types of games do not utilize the magnet effect as an integral part of playing a game in order to accomplish a specified game objective. None of the prior art games which did utilize the magnetic effect in achieving the game objective involved placing two or more play pieces on a playing area while using playing pieces having magnets with a random distribution of polarity.

Briefly, the herein invention comprises specified separate areas. Theseareas can be either numbered, separately colored, physically defined, or the like so that they are readily definable one from the other. They may be provided on a playing surface such as a flat board, or more preferably, on surfaces formed on a three-dimensional structure such as a boat or the like. Playing pieces are utilized which can be molded into definable shapes, such as figures, animals or the like. In addition, however, the playing pieces can be of simple rectangular or other regular or irregular configuration. In each playing piece, there is disposed a magnet with one pole of the magnet facing toward one side of the playing piece, while the opposite pole faces toward the other side. In playing the game, means can be provided for randomly indicating one of the areas on the playing surface, such as a spinner with numbers about its circumference. Each player has assigned to him a given number of playing pieces of one color or the like and at his turn he must place one of his playing pieces on the area indicated by the spinner. Each player, in playing the game, will attempt to dispose of all of his pieces by placing them on the playing areas. In playing the game, when a piece is on a defined area, a second piece placed thereon can, depending upon the relative polarity of the magnets in the pieces, either be attracted to the first piece, in which instance both pieces will stay in the area, or repel the first piece, knocking it over or moving it out of the defined area. When a piece is so upset or moved, the player possessing that piece gets it back and he will have to again place it on a playing area. The pieces may be constructed such that during repulsion the piece repelled will topple over due to the position of both the magnet and the center of gravity of the piece. Alternatively, if the magnets are sufficiently strong, the second piece can actually repel the first and slide it out ofa defined area.

It is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view ofa game of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view ofthe game of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a playing piece of the invention. I

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the piece of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial section view of two play pieces of the invention showing the disposition of the magnets and the repulsion of two play pieces due to the polarity of the magnets.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial section view of two play pieces of the invention showing the attraction of the two pieces due to the polarity of the magnets.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a spinner that can be utilized to play the game.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is seen one embodiment of the game of this invention which comprises a first large toy ship 11 and a much smaller toy ship 13 following it and connected thereto by way of a tabular extension 15 extending from the larger ship 11. The ships can be formed out of molded plastic material and are so shaped as to have a plurality of flat areas thereon. As can be seen in the top view of FIG. 2, the ships have a series of circles 17 which may be painted or integrally formed thereon at differing flat surfaces on top of the ships. As seen, the larger ship 11 has four circles thereon, each circle being designated by a numeral printed or formed on the surface. Ship 13 has the numerals 5 and 6 thereon within its circles 17. The defined areas need not be circles but could be squares or other geometric or irregular configurations, but basically serve to at least define specific identifiable areas on the playing surface which in this case are the top surfaces of the ships. Instead of numerals being placed in each circle 17, each circle may be colored differently from the others, the main purpose being that a given point on the ship within a specified area can be readily isolated or identified in playing the game.

In the particular embodiment shown, since the playing surfaces are comprised by boats, the playing pieces are in the form of sailors 19 seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, particularly. One of the advantages of the herein game is the fact that the playing surface can be shaped into unusual configurations such as a ship and the playing pieces alternatively can carry out the theme serving to make the game much more interesting and fun for the children playing it. The pieces 19 can be molded out of plastic, having a front side 21 which has the features of the item formed thereon. The back side 23 can be open and hollow as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The base 25 of the piece is formed so as to provide sufficient stability for the piece so that it can stand in an upright position when placed by a child on a playing surface. In the particular embodiment shown, a round or disk shaped magnet 27 is disposed in the head portion 29 of the playing piece, mounted from the rear open side 23, such that it is not viewable or apparent from the front side 21. This can be further seen in the cross-sectional detail of FIG. 5. The poles of the magnet are at the two flat faces 31 and 33 such that the face 31 toward the front of the sailor may be either a south or north pole, while the face 33 toward the rear side 23 will be of the opposite polarity. By locating the magnet adjacent the top of the playing piece there is provided a relatively large lever relative to the base 25 so that the piece can be toppled over when approached with a piece which repels it. For example, as seen in FIG. 6, the magnets 27 both have south poles facing the rear side 33 of the playing pieces. Thus, if the pieces of FIG. 6 are placed back-to-back on one playing area with south poles adjacent they will tend to repel each other. Alternatively,

if the same pieces are placed front to back on a playing area as in FIG. 7, with a north pole adjacent a south pole, they will immediately attract each other and stick to one another.

In playing the game, several playing pieces are preferably utilized in groups of differing color or indicia. For example, each of four players could be assigned three sailors of a particular color. A spinning means 35, such as shown in FIG. 8, can be utilized in playing the game. Alternatively, a die with the various numbers of the playing areas imprinted thereon can be used for identifying the playing area 17 a player is to occupy. A child attempts, in playing the game, to place all of its assigned pieces on the playing surface, which, in the embodiment shown, is the surface of the two ships, II and 13. The magnets are randomly disposed in the playing pieces such that it is not obvious to the players by merely looking at the pieces whether a piece has a south or a north pole facing its rear (or its front). The players then start the game by spinning the pointer of the spinning means 35. When the pointer stops at one of the numbers, the player then places one of his pieces on that numbered area 17 on the ships 11 and 13 corresponding to the number indicated. The next player then takes a turn and does the same. In playing the game, the great likelihood is that the same number will be repeated before the players have placed all their pieces on the ships. Thus, for example, when a piece is located on area 5, and a player subsequently spins 5, that player will place his piece on area adjacent the piece already there. If he places his piece so that the same poles are facing each other, as seen in FIG. 6, the first piece on area S will fall off the ship, as shown in FIG. 2, leaving the second players piece alone on area 5. The player who originally put his piece on area 5 must again place that piece. Alternatively, if the second player places his piece so that, as seen in FIG. 7, opposite poles are adjacent each other, then the pieces will attract and both pieces will remain on that number area. Preferably, the playing pieces are of such lightweight construction in relationship to the field of the magnets that the two pieces together on area number 3 as shown in FIG. 2 can be knocked over if a third piece presenting an adjacent pole of like polarity is placed adjacent thereto. In the particular embodiment shown, if there are three pieces occupying a given number area on board the ships and that number comes up again, then the player must once again spin the dial since that area is considered to be fully occupied. When a player places his sailor piece on board the ship, the piece may be held forward or backward toward a piece or pieces already on the area. The player thus attempts to guess which side will repel or attract, with-the object of knocking off opponents pieces but not his own. When a player finally boards all three of his sailors, in accordance with one method of playing the game, he is not declared the winner if any other player still has two sailors not aboard ship; the game continues until all the players have boarded at least two sailors. Thus, it can be seen that a player having three sailors on board may even find himself in a position where he has to start over if they are all knocked overboard.

The game has been shown in the form of ships and sailors in order to make it interesting for children playing the game, particularly from the concept that a sailor can fall overboard, or man a station on board a ship. The game can obviously be played with other configurations and other types of playing pieces. In fact, in a more adult form of the game, rectangularly or other regular shaped objects having randomly arranged magnets therein can be utilized to be placed in particular squares or areas on a flat playing surface with the overall concept still being to occupy a playing board with ones playing pieces. It can be seen that if the pieces are properly sized in relationship to the location and strength of the magnets, a piece might not be knocked over when approached by a piece having a same facing polarity, but rather may be slid or moved out ofa given area or over the edge of a supporting surface. Because magnetic attraction and repulsion are utilized, rather than a mechanical interaction, the pieces can also be physically separated and they will still act on one another. Thus, a single play area may be divided into sections which are partitioned or separated from one another, which may serve to conceal the facts as to which of the areas are occupied by opponents pieces.

We claim:

1. A magnetic play apparatus comprising,

means providing a plurality of separate defined playing areas,

and at least three playing pieces adapted to be positioned on said playing areas, each piece having a base and opposed upstanding sides such that each piece has front and rear opposed surfaces, each piece having a magnet disposed therein above the center of gravity thereof, said magnet lying between the front and rear surfaces of the piece, the magnets being disposed in the pieces such that the pieces will attract or repel each other depending upon the relative positioning of the magnet poles, the center of gravity being sufficiently far above the base of the piece that the piece will be capable of being toppled when a piece of like polarity is placed in repelling juxtaposition therewith.

2. A magnetic play apparatus comprising,

a playing board having a base and means on said base providing a plurality of separate defined playing areas of at least two different elevations above the base,

and at least three playing pieces adapted to be positioned on said playing areas, each piece having a magnet positioned therein such that the pieces will attract or repel each other depending upon the relative positioning of the pieces,

the relationship of the strength of the magnetic force of the magnets to the area of each of said separate playing areas being such that when one play piece held in a stationary position repels a second piece, the repelled piece will be pushed off the one of said elevated areas on which it is positioned.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each piece has two opposed upstanding sides comprising a front surface and an opposed rear surface with a magnet positioned therein such that one surface has one polarity and the other, surface the opposite polarity.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pieces are elongated relative to a base on which they are selfstanding upon the playing areas, the poles of the magnets being generally normal to the playing areas.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pieces are elongated relative to a base on which they are selfstanding upon the playing areas, and wherein the magnets are disposed in said playing pieces relative to the center of gravity thereof such that upon being repelled as described, a piece will topple from its self-standing position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the playing pieces are in groups having differing indicia thereon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the playing areas is supported in an elevated position above a base therefor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the playing areas have at least two different elevations above said base.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for selecting by chance one of the defined playing areas to be used.

10. The methodof playing a game comprising,

providing separate defined playing areas,

providing a plurality of playing pieces having magnets disposed therein such that the pieces will attractor repel each other when placed in juxtaposition,

each player successively selecting by chance a defined playing area,

and placing a piece in the area selected, the placement being such as to put the piece in juxtaposition to any other piece that may be occupying the selected playing area so that said other piece will be repelled and caused to fall or will be attracted by the subsequent piece, the placement of pieces being continued until one player has placed a predetermined number of his pieces.

i 8 1' i l 

1. A magnetic play apparatus comprising, means providing a plurality of separate defined playing areas, and at least three playing pieces adapted to be positioned on said playing areas, each piece having a base and opposed upstanding sides such that each piece has front and rear opposed surfaces, each piece having a magnet disposed therein above the center of gravity thereof, said magnet lying between the front and rear surfaces of the piece, the magnets being disposed in the pieces such that the pieces will attract or repel each other depending upon the relative positioning of the magnet poles, the center of gravity being sufficiently far above the base of the piece that the piece will be capable of being toppled when a piece of like polarity is placed in repelling juxtaposition therewith.
 1. A magnetic play apparatus comprising, means providing a plurality of separate defined playing areas, and at least three playing pieces adapted to be positioned on said playing areas, each piece having a base and opposed upstanding sides such that each piece has front and rear opposed surfaces, each piece having a magnet disposed therein above the center of gravity thereof, said magnet lying between the front and rear surfaces of the piece, the magnets being disposed in the pieces such that the pieces will attract or repel each other depending upon the relative positioning of the magnet poles, the center of gravity being sufficiently far above the base of the piece that the piece will be capable of being toppled when a piece of like polarity is placed in repelling juxtaposition therewith.
 2. A magnetic play apparatus comprising, a playing board having a base and means on said base providing a plurality of separate defined playing areas of at least two different elevations above the base, and at least three playing pieces adapted to be positioned on said playing areas, each piece having a magnet positioned therein such that the pieces will attract or repel each other depending upon the relative positioning of the pieces, the relationship of the strength of the magnetic force of the magnets to the area of each of said separate playing areas being such that when one play piece held in a stationary position repels a second piece, the repelled piece will be pushed off the one of said elevated areas on which it is positioned.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each piece has two opposed upstanding sides comprising a front surface and an opposed rear surface with a magnet positioned therein such that one surface has one polarity and the other, surface the opposite polarity.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pieces are elongated relative to a base on which they are self-standing upon the playing areas, the poles of the magnets being generally normal to the playing areas.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pieces are elongated relative to a base on which they are self-standing upon the playing areas, and wherein the magnets are disposed in said playing pieces relative to the center of gravity thereof such that upon being repelled as described, a piece will topple from its self-standing position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the playing pieces are in groups having differing indicia thereon.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the playing areas is supported in an elevated position above a base therefor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the playing areas have at least two different elevations above said base.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for selecting by chance one of the defined playing areas to be used. 